Page 24 of Sold to the Enemy

She felt excitement fill her, but before they went to the care home, they walked into the diner for some food. Martha, the main cook, bustled out and rushed to pull her in for a warm hug. This town had been more like her family than her own father.

She introduced Drago. Selma noticed how some of the people tensed up and there was no doubt in her mind that they all knew exactly who Drago was and what he was capable of. Thankfully, no one said a word. They were able to eat in silence. A couple of men and women came to the table to offer congratulations. Drago handled it all amazingly and like a gentleman.

When it came to dessert, Selma was more than happy to skip it, and they were once again in the car and on the way to the care home.

Several cars were already parked outside. Climbing out of the car, Drago was there to offer his hand, and she took it.

Brendon, the man who ran the care home, was there, waiting. He was in his fifties, and she knew his sad history. His father had entered a care home when he was in his eighties. Brendon had been so busy with work, he rarely visited his father, but the man had died. Brendon made sure there was an investigation, and found negligence and abuse. In doing so, he’d made sure to open his own care home, where all the caregivers were vetted. He offered an excellent facility, all in the name of his father, Benjamin.

Drago let out a little growl, and Selma released Brendon and introduced her husband to him. The two men shook hands and then Brendon took them through to the main room. The moment she stepped through the doors, she spotted several familiar faces. There was sweet Nancy, who always put way too many sugars in her tea. Dorothy, who often repeated the same conversations. Frank, who was once a firefighter, and had many stories to tell, and plenty he refused to. Selma introduced them to her husband, and sat with them.

The hours ticked by, and she didn’t care. She was sad to learn some of the residents had passed in the few months of her absence.

Several of the men were interested in warning Drago and demanding that he be a good husband. Most of them threatened to wipe the floor with him, which she loved. She had missed them all.

By the end of the evening, Selma knew she had to go with Drago so they could sleep. She hugged them all and kissed their cheeks, promising to return soon.

Chapter Eleven

A Few Days Later

Selma was excited.

She couldn’t wait for her and Drago to return home because she had a very special surprise for him. Not only had they rented a place close to town, which meant she could visit the animal shelter as well as the care home she loved so much, but Drago had also talked about buying a place here indefinitely.

Taking a bite out of her burger, she glanced across the table and knew she was going to tell him. Selma didn’t care that he had never said the words to her, or that admitting her feelings to him could change everything. As she opened her mouth, about to tell him exactly how she felt, she noticed the way he tensed up.

He wasn’t looking at her, but directly over her shoulder, and she couldn’t help looking to see who had caught his attention. She didn’t know who or what she expected to find, but it certainly wasn’t her father.

There, in the doorway, was George Kent.

Selma hadn’t seen her father in a long time. He stood between two guards. She didn’t recognize them, but she had a feeling they were not his own guards.

Drago got to his feet and Selma put down her burger and followed him, feeling her heart start to race. She had no idea why her father was here, but she also had another horrible feeling building inside her. George, her father, was not welcome.

“Selma, go back inside,” Drago said.

“Yeah, send my daughter off, so you can do your dirty work.”

There was a choice. If she went inside, she had this horrible feeling, in a strange kind of way, her father would win, but if she didn’t go back inside and instead stood side by side with her husband, then Drago would win.

Selma thought about all the people she had known over the years. The sweet and kind tutors. She also had a sudden memory of the days they were shaken—men and women alike—and she knew it was because it was their last day. They knew they were going to die and yet, they were kind to her.

This was not a hard choice. Stepping up to Drago’s side, she slid her hand into his. “Whatever dirty work my husband needs to do, he can do in front of me,” Selma said. “What are you doing here?”

She felt Drago’s brief clasp of her hand, and then he repeated the question, only changing a couple of words while he spoke to the guards.

Selma listened and she wasn’t even surprised to learn that her father had been stealing from Drago. Not only had he been taking from her husband, he was also in contact with pimps and other associates in his wish to overthrow Drago.

“You don’t care, do you?” Selma asked.

“Do you expect me to allow this filth to run my streets?” George Kent spat toward Drago.

“They’re not your streets, but your thirst for power could get me killed. You had enough people taken care of to make sure my presence stayed hidden, but not because you cared about me, did you? It was all about fear and power and greed.”

She had tried to love her father, but in this moment, she knew there was no hope for him. He had fallen way too far, she couldn’t do it anymore, so she turned to Drago and kissed his lips.

“You do what you have to do. I’m going to finish my dinner.”